Funded Programs Conferences

The 10th International Conference on Alzheimer\'s & Parkinson\'s Diseases

Summary:
This internationally recognized conference, now in its 10th year (March 9–13, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain), is one of the largest meetings in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and brings together the leading researchers from academia, biotech, and pharma. Last year’s AD/PD 2009 attracted 2,346 international medical professionals and an even higher turnout is expected for 2011. This conference is at the forefront of unraveling the mechanisms and improving the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other related neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Molecular and Cellular Basis for Neurodegeneration

Summary:
There is an urgent need to identify therapies that slow and/or reverse the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Research in neurodegenerative disorders is providing tremendous advances in the molecular understanding of these disorders. New insights in cell biology, biochemistry, genomics, and proteomics into these illnesses are leading to mechanism based therapies and new tools and biomarkers to study disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. In the 2011 Keystone Symposia Meeting: Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Molecular and Cellular Basis for Neurodegeneration, an emphasis will be placed on understanding new molecular and common mechanisms of disease in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), triple repeat diseases, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and others.

Alzheimer\'s Disease Beyond Abeta Investigator(s): Andrew Robertson, PhD Institution(s): Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology

Summary:
This proposal is to support the 2010 Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, entitled "Alzheimer's Disease Beyond Abeta". By 2010, many of the clinical trials presently underway targeting Abeta will have been completed or far enough along the pathway that we will have a better understanding of the benefit and limitations of this approach. This leads us to consider what the next targets are that will need to be addressed to fully treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this meeting is therefore to stimulate and promote a discussion beyond Abeta as a key factor and therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. This objective will be equally important whether therapeutic approaches targeting Abeta are successful or not, to either complement and expand successful Abeta therapies or to initiate a paradigm shift. In particular, the organizers plan to discuss the generation of alternative models to study Alzheimer's disease, and highlight several exciting areas of research including the role of synaptic dysfunction, neuronal regeneration, the immune system, and protein degradation in Alzheimer's disease.

The 2nd World Congress on Controversies in Neurology - CONy Investigator(s): Amos Korczyn, MD Tel Aviv University

Summary:
There are many controversies in Alzheimer's disease research and practice which are difficult to resolve. The format of this conference deals with novel discoveries and clinical techniques that are as yet unsubstantiated and aims to generate discussion and debate. This congress is a highly effective way to educate scientists and practitioners to understand and apply new research findings to clinical practice in Alzheimer's disease.

Bridging Cultures: Improving Evaluation and Treatment of Cognitive Disorders Investigator(s): Bruce L. Miller, MD Institution(s): Memory and Aging Center, UC San Francisco

Summary:
This conference represents an important step towards improving cross-cultural evaluations of cognitive disorders in underserved populations. It is primarily aimed at informing clinical investigators and physicians of the various new approaches to evaluating patients from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and will provide outreach to caregivers and laypersons in the community. The conference will bring together physicians, scientists, community leaders and the interested lay public, to advance the understanding of cross-cultural issues surrounding cognitive disorders. ISOA support will provide funding for travel for an investigator to present on novel therapeutic treatment strategies that are currently in development.